GRALLiE GRUID.E — ARDEA. 227 



THE BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON. 



Ardea discors. 

 plate lxxxi. fig. 185. 



Night Heron. Pennant, Arct. Zool. Vol. 2, p. 450. 



A. nyclicorax. Wilson, Am Om. Vol. 7, p. 101, pi. 51, figs. 2, 3. s 



A. (Botaurus) nyclicorax. Bonaparte, Ann. Lye. N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 306. 



A. discors. INuttall, Man. Om. Vol. 2, p. 54. 



Nyclicorax americanus. Bonaparte, Geog. and Comp. List, p. 43. 



A. nyclicorax. Aodcbon, B. of A. Vol. 6, p. 82, pi. 36.1 Giraud, Birds of Long island, p. 279. 



Nyclicorax gardenii. Jaedine, Am. Ornithology, Ed. Arijilio-. Vol. 3, p. 5. 



Characteristics. Crested. Whitish : crown and back greenish black ; rump, wings and 

 tail light drab : at the nuptial season, three long white occipital feathers. 

 Young, brown streaked with whitish ; beneath lighter streaked with 

 grey. Length, 26 "5. 



Description. Bill stout, straight, slightly compressed, scarcely longer than the head, 4" 5 

 long : upper mandible curved towards the tip, where it is strongly notched. Occipital fea- 

 thers, when present, cylindrical, incurved, from eight to ten inches long, and so closely con- 

 nected as often to appear like a single feather ; the other feathers of the head and breast long, 

 loose and silky. Tail short and slightly rounded, of twelve feathers. Hind claw stout and 

 much curved. Tibia bare to an inch above the joint : tarsus longer than the middle toe. 



Color. Bill black. Frontlet and all beneath white, with a faint tinge of dusky or yellowish 

 on the abdomen : ridge of the wings white. Upper part of the head, and fore part of the 

 back, glossy dark green. Space between the base of the bill and the eyes greenish blue. 

 Legs yellowish. Young : Bill greenish yellow ; above deep brown, streaked with light 

 rufous, and triangular white spots on the wings ; beneath dusky, streaked with white. Legs 

 and feet light green. The long occipital feathers wanting. 



Length, 25'0-28-0. 



The Black-crowned Night Heron, or Quawk, has long been confounded with the A. nycli- 

 corax of Europe, to which it is closely allied in form and habits. To the American species, 

 Mr. Jardine has applied the name of N. gardenii, and this has been transposed by subse- 

 quent writers to the European species. Mr. Nuttall, I think, first pointed out the distinction. 



This species derives its popular name from the deep guttural cry, resembling that word in 

 sound. It is a southern species, ranging from Mexico to the forty-fourth parallel. It appears 

 with us about the beginning of April, and remains until quite late in the autumn. It breeds 

 in this State, laying three or four bluish green eggs. It feeds on fish, aquatic reptiles, sea 

 lettuce ( Viva latissima), grasshoppers and other large insects. Its flesh is generally esteemed. 

 It is said to undergo three annual changes of plumage, before it reaches its perfect state 

 for breeding. It is rarely seen except at twilight or during the night. 



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